Azem Hajdari denounces the “law on the collection of weapons” ON PAGE 4

Scandals involving nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) continue ON PAGE 5

Albanian justice returns to the defendant Nano ON PAGE 4

Gërxhaliu, sought by Albanian justice, is being sheltered by the government, SHIK and the ZP The swindled creditors seek an urgent meeting with Fatos Klosi: Give us Gërxhaliu ON PAGE 3

By Bardhyl LONDO The new law on the protection and classification of secrets fell like a bolt from the blue, especially in intellectual circles, for whom free thought is particularly sacred, [and] represents the greatest achievement of these years of pluralism. But why is this draft law being introduced precisely now? What secrets does the Albanian state need to protect? The patents of the SHIK agents, advanced technology, when you are selling it for free in Albania? Perhaps military secrets? Even these—not only after the events of March 1997, when they took to the streets and everyone learned about them, starting with the types of weapons and going as far as their names and numbers, but these “secrets” were already known, as could be understood even back when you might think nothing at all entered Albania, when the institutions of the former state had not yet been rebuilt. One thing, while the institutions of the former state have not yet been rebuilt, may be clear: the government intends to build its roof first and its foundations afterward. Nevertheless, according to its own logic, the Albanian government has a strong reason to rush this draft law through Parliament. It is about scandals that are piling up, so many that it can no longer bear its governing project to be exposed any further. If precisely these other things were to reach us as “secrets,” the government fears the publication of these “secrets,” which brand it as the most corrupt government, the champion of smuggling. Being incapable, or unwilling, to have the other scandals made public, the Albanian governing team now calls on the iron law for the protection of secrets. Once this infamous law is approved, even the press law, trumpeted as a great achievement, will change of its own accord. To its sole sentence, “the press is free,” one must add, “the Prime Minister determines this freedom,” because only he knows what should be published and what must not be reported in the press. This means that Albania will lose everything it has gained so far. Truth, which is a universal possession, will, after this draft law is approved, belong only to the Albanian Prime Minister. The latter and the bodies that will classify secrets will be declared emperors of a domain that until now has not been possessed by even the most powerful person in world history: truth, the power of thought, will be their property. Albania thus returns to the infamous Orwellian vicious circle. What should concern the Albanian government is not the power of the secret, but its protection. If the Albanian government really has secrets it wants to protect (even smuggling), it should use the new law to punish not those who publish them, but those who possess these secrets—that is, not the press and electronic media, or people who talk about them over coffee, even in the street, but—[?] the people at home who reveal and sell this “secret.” Perhaps the movement of the trucks might be classified as secret information, but can anyone be stopped from assisting the horses? But can one cross the border with a visa numbered truck-driver to bring it to the horses? (May God not punish [us]!) Here is some information for a newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? Before the governing team gets information from another newspaper? [The rest of the text is illegible in the image.]

ON PAGE 3 From the Democrats’ protest in front of Parliament Photo: Albes FUSHA

Malaj creates an alibi by playing the victim The left-wing press published a report yesterday about a threat against the DXN representative, Shiqeri, Natalia Cea. It concerns an automatic bullet sent in an envelope addressed to Cea. Cea herself has made no comment on this matter, but others have not remained silent. Arben Malaj, Minister of Finance and, at the same time, Nano’s right-hand man in the control band, made statements yesterday about the truth being removed. Malaj immediately appropriated the threat made against Cea. A bullet for Cea comes from the Prime Minister’s office ON PAGE 3

Vlorë. Last year’s terror returns Two masked police officers robbed 20 million lireta on Wednesday near the village of Lezhë in the district of Vlorë. Ilirjan and Fatmir Delmi, who were travelling by car to their village, were stopped much earlier by two masked, armed police officers, who forced them to hand over everything they had with them: 20 million lireta. According to reports, the robbers were not satisfied with just taking the money; they also prepared to make a quick getaway from the scene in the vehicle they had forcibly taken from the brothers, and the robbers bayoneted their father. This is the second robbery this week in the district of Vlorë. Two days earlier, four masked police officers robbed three money changers in the city centre, taking around 80 million lireta.

Twenty-three Albanian footballers seek political asylum in Finland An Albanian football team and its coaches sought political asylum in Finland after taking part in a youth event, the press reported on Wednesday. A total of 23 members of the Albanian national team, 17 young players and six officials, went to a police station in the capital, Helsinki, and sought asylum, the newspaper “Helsingin Sanomat” wrote. Police said the Albanians would be allowed to remain in the country until a decision was made on their application.

Heads of Journalists’ Associations meet with the OSCE ambassador in Tirana The two largest journalists’ associations in Albania are calling on the OSCE to intervene with the Albanian government to urgently halt the procedure for approving the law on classifying information as secret from the Albanian public. Ylli Rakipi, Chairman of the Journalists’ Association, and Armando Shkullaku, Chairman of the Shkodër Journalists’ Association, wrote to the ambassador of the International Federation of Journalists and asked the OSCE ambassador in Tirana, Dan Everts, to intervene urgently with the Albanian government to prevent the law’s approval. The Journalists’ Associations are concerned that, under the prepared draft law, the Prime Minister has full and discretionary powers to decide which information is secret and which is not. He has the right to consider material classified as secret or not secret, and this information could lead to charges of violating secrecy. The law risks sending dozens of Albanian journalists to prison, journalists who have to deal every day with the blocking of information and obtaining it by other means. The opposition has reacted to the draft law, and the newspapers and independent Albanian journalists have criticized it. The Albanian Helsinki Committee, accused of being a pro-government institution, has been forced to make some objections. The OSCE ambassador in Tirana has promised to help the Albanian journalists’ associations. Dan Everts, who has mediated a series of consultations between the government and opposition in the country, may be able to influence the cancellation of the draft law. The draft law follows the bill to reorganize the secret service in Albania, which is likewise under the Prime Minister’s control. The stated reason for censoring the public is “national security needs,” which, according to the opposition, is a serious pretext for installing a new dictatorship. One position of the opposition and the Enter agency is that combining the law on SHIK with the one on classifying secrets sets a serious precedent for the complete denial of the public’s right to information and the arbitrary punishment of journalists, who now face 3 to 7 years in prison if they publish a news item that the Prime Minister may consider secret.

The PD’s Department of Legal Affairs: State authorities must answer for arbitrary, unconstitutional and unlawful actions against the MP ON PAGE 2

Two police officers from the Shkodër police station have been unjustly held in prison for seven months ON PAGE 2

“Union for Democracy” invites the parliamentary parties to the constitutional roundtable “Union for Democracy” has sent the parliamentary parties the following invitation: “Union for Democracy” invites your parties, together with the other parliamentary parties, to a roundtable to be held on Monday, 31 August 1998, at which the parties of “Union for Democracy” will present their comments, options and proposed wording for the draft constitution. “Union for Democracy” hopes that this invitation will be taken seriously and accepted by all the invited parties.